Mixed messages on filing joint tax returns

The Brownback administration needs to get its act together on implementing the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage. The Kansas Attorney General’s Office stated in a federal court brief last week that the state was accepting joint income tax returns filed by same-sex married couples. But the Kansas Department of Revenue said in an e-mail Monday that it was waiting on advice from Gov. Sam Brownback’s legal staff. Could same-sex couples file joint tax returns now or only in the future? Could they amend past tax returns? No one seemed to know. The Department of Revenue finally announced later Monday that same-sex couples could file joint tax returns for tax year 2015 but not before. – Phillip Brownlee